>> our involvement in the middle east long predates 9/11 or the invasion of iraq. it is a phenomenon of the post-world war ii era in which we have basically three interests. one, to ensure the free throw of oil out of the region. second, to help ensure israel's security. third, to make sure that no other country dominates the region, other than quite frankly the united states. those other issues that you mentioned are actually subordinate to those three long-standing core interests to the united states that administrations from both the republican and democratic party have pursued. >> wait. but why wouldn't then brazil also be interested in oil and aligning with israel and all of these other things that we seem to value? >> the brazilians have their own vast energy resources, but i think the point is that -- i think it's a good one. that countries like china and india and other rising global powers are not patrolling the waterways of the persian gulf. are not extending tremendous energy trying to resolve the israel/palestinian conflict. that is something that the u